Watchmen。
\'Thattoeveryinfectedhousetherebeappointedtwowatchmen,oneforeveryday,andtheotherforthenight;andthatthesewatchmenhaveaspecialcarethatnopersongoinoroutofsuchinfectedhouseswhereoftheyhavethecharge,uponpainofseverepunishment。Andthesaidwatchmentodosuchfurtherofficesasthesickhouseshallneedandrequire:andifthewatchmanbesentuponanybusiness,tolockupthehouseandtakethekeywithhim;andthewatchmanbydaytoattenduntiltenoftheclockatnight,andthewatchmanbynightuntilsixinthemorning。
Searchers。
\'Thattherebeaspecialcaretoappointwomensearchersineveryparish,suchasareofhonestreputation,andofthebestsortascanbegotinthiskind;andthesetobesworntomakeduesearchandtruereporttotheutmostoftheirknowledgewhetherthepersonswhosebodiestheyareappointedtosearchdodieoftheinfection,orofwhatotherdiseases,asnearastheycan。Andthatthephysicianswhoshallbeappointedforcureandpreventionoftheinfectiondocallbeforethemthesaidsearcherswhoare,orshallbe,appointedfortheseveralparishesundertheirrespectivecares,totheendtheymayconsiderwhethertheyarefitlyqualifiedforthatemployment,andchargethemfromtimetotimeastheyshallseecause,iftheyappeardefectiveintheirduties。
\'Thatnosearcherduringthistimeofvisitationbepermittedtouseanypublicworkoremployment,orkeepanyshoporstall,orbeemployedasalaundress,orinanyothercommonemploymentwhatsoever。
Chirurgeons。
\'Forbetterassistanceofthesearchers,forasmuchastherehathbeenheretoforegreatabuseinmisreportingthedisease,tothefurtherspreadingoftheinfection,itisthereforeorderedthattherebechosenandappointedableanddiscreetchirurgeons,besidesthosethatdoalreadybelongtothepest—house,amongstwhomthecityandLibertiestobequarteredastheplacesliemostaptandconvenient;andeveryofthesetohaveonequarterforhislimit;andthesaidchirurgeonsineveryoftheirlimitstojoinwiththesearchersfortheviewofthebody,totheendtheremaybeatruereportmadeofthedisease。
\'Andfurther,thatthesaidchirurgeonsshallvisitandsearchsuch—
likepersonsasshalleithersendforthemorbenamedanddirecteduntothembytheexaminersofeveryparish,andinformthemselvesofthediseaseofthesaidparties。
\'Andforasmuchasthesaidchirurgeonsaretobesequesteredfromallothercures,andkeptonlytothisdiseaseoftheinfection,itisorderedthateveryofthesaidchirurgeonsshallhavetwelve—penceabodysearchedbythem,tobepaidoutofthegoodsofthepartysearched,ifhebeable,orotherwisebytheparish。
Nurse—keepers。
\'Ifanynurse—keepershallremoveherselfoutofanyinfectedhousebeforetwenty—eightdaysafterthedeceaseofanypersondyingoftheinfection,thehousetowhichthesaidnurse—keeperdothsoremoveherselfshallbeshutupuntilthesaidtwenty—eightdaysbeexpired。\'
ORDERSCONCERNINGINFECTEDHOUSESANDPERSONSSICKOFTHEPLAGUE。
NoticetobegivenoftheSickness。
\'Themasterofeveryhouse,assoonasanyoneinhishousecomplaineth,eitherofblotchorpurple,orswellinginanypartofhisbody,orfallethotherwisedangerouslysick,withoutapparentcauseofsomeotherdisease,shallgiveknowledgethereoftotheexaminerofhealthwithintwohoursafterthesaidsignshallappear。
SequestrationoftheSick。
\'Assoonasanymanshallbefoundbythisexaminer,chirurgeon,orsearchertobesickoftheplague,heshallthesamenightbesequesteredinthesamehouse;andincasehebesosequestered,thenthoughheafterwardsdienot,thehousewhereinhesickenedshouldbeshutupforamonth,aftertheuseoftheduepreservativestakenbytherest。
AiringtheStuff。
\'Forsequestrationofthegoodsandstuffoftheinfection,theirbeddingandapparelandhangingsofchambersmustbewellairedwithfireandsuchperfumesasarerequisitewithintheinfectedhousebeforetheybetakenagaintouse。Thistobedonebytheappointmentofanexaminer。
ShuttingupoftheHouse。
\'Ifanypersonshallhavevisitedanymanknowntobeinfectedoftheplague,orenteredwillinglyintoanyknowninfectedhouse,beingnotallowed,thehousewhereinheinhabitethshallbeshutupforcertaindaysbytheexaminer\'sdirection。
NonetoberemovedoutofinfectedHouses,but,&C。
\'Item,thatnoneberemovedoutofthehousewherehefallethsickoftheinfectionintoanyotherhouseinthecity（exceptitbetothepest—
houseoratent,oruntosomesuchhousewhichtheownerofthesaidvisitedhouseholdethinhisownhandsandoccupiethbyhisownservants）;andsoassecuritybegiventotheparishwhithersuchremoveismade,thattheattendanceandchargeaboutthesaidvisitedpersonsshallbeobservedandchargedinalltheparticularitiesbeforeexpressed,withoutanycostofthatparishtowhichanysuchremoveshallhappentobemade,andthisremovetobedonebynight。Anditshallbelawfultoanypersonthathathtwohousestoremoveeitherhissoundorhisinfectedpeopletohissparehouseathischoice,soas,ifhesendawayfirsthissound,henotaftersendthitherhissick,noragainuntothesickthesound;andthatthesamewhichhesendethbeforoneweekattheleastshutupandsecludedfromcompany,forfearofsomeinfectionatthefirstnotappearing。
BurialoftheDead。
\'Thattheburialofthedeadbythisvisitationbeatmostconvenienthours,alwayseitherbeforesun—risingoraftersun—setting,withtheprivityofthechurchwardensorconstable,andnototherwise;andthatnoneighboursnorfriendsbesufferedtoaccompanythecorpsetochurch,ortoenterthehousevisited,uponpainofhavinghishouseshutuporbeimprisoned。
\'Andthatnocorpsedyingofinfectionshallbeburied,orremaininanychurchintimeofcommonprayer,sermon,orlecture。Andthatnochildrenbesufferedattimeofburialofanycorpseinanychurch,churchyard,orburying—placetocomenearthecorpse,coffin,orgrave。
Andthatallthegravesshallbeatleastsixfeetdeep。
\'Andfurther,allpublicassembliesatotherburialsaretobeforeborneduringthecontinuanceofthisvisitation。
NoinfectedStufftobeuttered。
\'Thatnoclothes,stuff,bedding,orgarmentsbesufferedtobecarriedorconveyedoutofanyinfectedhouses,andthatthecriersandcarriersabroadofbeddingoroldappareltobesoldorpawnedbeutterlyprohibitedandrestrained,andnobrokersofbeddingoroldapparelbepermittedtomakeanyoutwardshow,orhangforthontheirstalls,shop—boards,orwindows,towardsanystreet,lane,commonway,orpassage,anyoldbeddingorappareltobesold,uponpainofimprisonment。Andifanybrokerorotherpersonshallbuyanybedding,apparel,orotherstuffoutofanyinfectedhousewithintwomonthsaftertheinfectionhathbeenthere,hishouseshallbeshutupasinfected,andsoshallcontinueshutuptwentydaysattheleast。
NoPersontobeconveyedoutofanyinfectedHouse。
\'Ifanypersonvisiteddofortune,bynegligentlookingunto,orbyanyothermeans,tocomeorbeconveyedfromaplaceinfectedtoanyotherplace,theparishfromwhencesuchpartyhathcomeorbeenconveyed,uponnoticethereofgiven,shallattheirchargecausethesaidpartysovisitedandescapedtobecarriedandbroughtbackagainbynight,andthepartiesinthiscaseoffendingtobepunishedatthedirectionofthealdermanoftheward,andthehouseofthereceiverofsuchvisitedpersontobeshutupfortwentydays。
EveryvisitedHousetobemarked。
\'Thateveryhousevisitedbemarkedwitharedcrossofafootlonginthemiddleofthedoor,evidenttobeseen,andwiththeseusualprintedwords,thatistosay,\"Lord,havemercyuponus,\"tobesetcloseoverthesamecross,theretocontinueuntillawfulopeningofthesamehouse。
EveryvisitedHousetobewatched。
\'Thattheconstablesseeeveryhouseshutup,andtobeattendedwithwatchmen,whichmaykeepthemin,andministernecessariesuntothemattheirowncharges,iftheybeable,oratthecommoncharge,iftheyareunable;theshuttinguptobeforthespaceoffourweeksafterallbewhole。
\'Thatpreciseordertobetakenthatthesearchers,chirurgeons,keepers,andburiersarenottopassthestreetswithoutholdingaredrodorwandofthreefeetinlengthintheirhands,openandevidenttobeseen,andarenottogointoanyotherhousethanintotheirown,orintothatwhereuntotheyaredirectedorsentfor;buttoforbearandabstainfromcompany,especiallywhentheyhavebeenlatelyusedinanysuchbusinessorattendance。
Inmates。
\'Thatwhereseveralinmate,—careinoneandthesamehouse,andanypersoninthathousehappenstobeinfected,nootherpersonorfamilyofsuchhouseshallbesufferedtoremovehimorthemselveswithoutacertificatefromtheexaminersofhealthofthatparish;orindefaultthereof,thehousewhitherheortheysoremoveshallbeshutupasincaseofvisitation。
Hackney—Coaches。
\'Thatcarebetakenofhackney—coachmen,thattheymaynot（assomeofthemhavebeenobservedtodoaftercarryingofinfectedpersonstothepest—houseandotherplaces）beadmittedtocommonusetilltheircoachesbewellaired,andhavestoodunemployedbythespaceoffiveorsixdaysaftersuchservice。\'
ORDERSFORCLEANSINGANDKEEPINGOFTHESTREETSSWEET。
TheStreetstobekeptClean。
\'First,itisthoughtnecessary,andsoordered,thateveryhouseholderdocausethestreettobedailypreparedbeforehisdoor,andsotokeepitcleansweptalltheweeklong。
ThatRakerstakeitfromouttheHouses。
\'Thatthesweepingandfilthofhousesbedailycarriedawaybytherakers,andthattherakershallgivenoticeofhiscomingbytheblowingofahorn,ashithertohathbeendone。
LaystallstobemadefarofffromtheCity。
\'Thatthelaystallsberemovedasfarasmaybeoutofthecityandcommonpassages,andthatnonightmanorotherbesufferedtoemptyavaultintoanygardennearaboutthecity。
CaretobehadofunwholesomeFishorFlesh,andofmustyCorn。
\'Thatspecialcarebetakenthatnostinkingfish,orunwholesomeflesh,ormustycorn,orothercorruptfruitsofwhatsortsoever,besufferedtobesoldaboutthecity,oranypartofthesame。
\'Thatthebrewersandtippling—houseshelookeduntoformustyandunwholesomecasks。
\'Thatnohogs,dogs,orcats,ortamepigeons,orconies,besufferedtobekeptwithinanypartofthecity,oranyswinetobeorstrayinthestreetsorlanes,butthatsuchswinebeimpoundedbythebeadleoranyotherofficer,andtheownerpunishedaccordingtoActofCommonCouncil,andthatthedogsbekilledbythedog—killersappointedforthatpurpose。\'
ORDERSCONCERNINGLOOSEPERSONSANDIDLE
ASSEMBLIES。
Beggars。
\'Forasmuchasnothingismorecomplainedofthanthemultitudeofroguesandwanderingbeggarsthatswarmineveryplaceaboutthecity,beingagreatcauseofthespreadingoftheinfection,andwillnotbeavoided,notwithstandinganyordersthathavebeengiventothecontrary:Itisthereforenowordered,thatsuchconstables,andotherswhomthismattermayanywayconcern,takespecialcarethatnowanderingbeggarsbesufferedinthestreetsofthiscityinanyfashionormannerwhatsoever,uponthepenaltyprovidedbythelaw,tobedulyandseverelyexecuteduponthem。
Plays。
\'Thatallplays,bear—baitings,games,singingofballads,buckler—
play,orsuch—likecausesofassembliesofpeoplebeutterlyprohibited,andthepartiesoffendingseverelypunishedbyeveryaldermaninhisward。
Feastingprohibited。
\'Thatallpublicfeasting,andparticularlybythecompaniesofthiscity,anddinnersattaverns,ale—houses,andotherplacesofcommonentertainment,beforbornetillfurtherorderandallowance;andthatthemoneytherebysparedbepreservedandemployedforthebenefitandreliefofthepoorvisitedwiththeinfection。
Tippling—houses。
\'Thatdisorderlytipplingintaverns,ale—houses,coffee—houses,andcellarsbeseverelylookedunto,asthecommonsinofthistimeandgreatestoccasionofdispersingtheplague。Andthatnocompanyorpersonbesufferedtoremainorcomeintoanytavern,ale—house,orcoffee—housetodrinkafternineoftheclockintheevening,accordingtotheancientlawandcustomofthiscity,uponthepenaltiesordainedinthatbehalf。
\'Andforthebetterexecutionoftheseorders,andsuchotherrulesanddirectionsas,uponfurtherconsideration,shallbefoundneedful:
Itisorderedandenjoinedthatthealdermen,deputies,andcommoncouncilmenshallmeettogetherweekly,once,twice,thriceoroftener（ascauseshallrequire）,atsomeonegeneralplaceaccustomedintheirrespectivewards（beingclearfrominfectionoftheplague）,toconsulthowthesaidordersmaybedulyputinexecution;notintendingthatanydwellinginornearplacesinfectedshallcometothesaidmeetingwhiletheircomingmaybedoubtful。Andthesaidaldermen,anddeputies,andcommoncouncilmenintheirseveralwardsmayputinexecutionanyothergoodordersthatbythemattheirsaidmeetingsshallbeconceivedanddevisedforpreservationofhisMajesty\'ssubjectsfromtheinfection。
\'SIRJOHNLAWRENCE,LordMayor。
SIRGEORGEWATERMAN
SIRCHARLESDoE,Sheriffs。\'
IneednotsaythattheseordersextendedonlytosuchplacesaswerewithintheLordMayor\'sjurisdiction,soitisrequisitetoobservethatthejusticesofPeacewithinthoseparishesandplacesaswerecalledtheHamletsandout—partstookthesamemethod。AsIremember,theordersforshuttingupofhousesdidnottakePlacesosoononourside,because,asIsaidbefore,theplaguedidnotreachtotheseeasternpartsofthetownatleast,norbegintobeveryviolent,tillthebeginningofAugust。Forexample,thewholebillfromthe11thtothe18thofJulywas1761,yettherediedbut71oftheplagueinallthoseparisheswecalltheTowerHamlets,andtheywereasfollows:—
ThenextweekAndtothe1stwasthus:ofAug。thus:
Aldgate143465
Stepney335876
Whitechappel214879
StKatherine,Tower244
Trinity,Minories114
—————————
71145228
Itwasindeedcomingonamain,fortheburialsthatsameweekwereinthenextadjoiningparishesthus:—
ThenextweekprodigiouslyTothe1stofincreased,as:Aug。thus:
StLeonard\'s,Shoreditch6484110
StBotolph\'s,Bishopsgate65105116
StGiles\'s,Cripplegate213421554
—————————
342610780
Thisshuttingupofhouseswasatfirstcountedaverycruelandunchristianmethod,andthepoorpeoplesoconfinedmadebitterlamentations。ComplaintsoftheseverityofitwerealsodailybroughttomyLordMayor,ofhousescauselessly（andsomemaliciously）shutup。Icannotsay;butuponinquirymanythatcomplainedsoloudlywerefoundinaconditiontobecontinued;andothersagain,inspectionbeingmadeuponthesickperson,andthesicknessnotappearinginfectious,orifuncertain,yetonhisbeingcontenttobecarriedtothepest—house,werereleased。
Itistruethatthelockingupthedoorsofpeople\'shouses,andsettingawatchmantherenightanddaytopreventtheirstirringoutoranycomingtothem,whenperhapsthesoundpeopleinthefamilymighthaveescapediftheyhadbeenremovedfromthesick,lookedveryhardandcruel;andmanypeopleperishedinthesemiserableconfinementswhich,\'tisreasonabletobelieve,wouldnothavebeendistemperediftheyhadhadliberty,thoughtheplaguewasinthehouse;atwhichthepeoplewereveryclamorousanduneasyatfirst,andseveralviolenceswerecommittedandinjuriesofferedtothemenwhoweresettowatchthehousessoshutup;alsoseveralpeoplebrokeoutbyforceinmanyplaces,asIshallobserveby—and—by。Butitwasapublicgoodthatjustifiedtheprivatemischief,andtherewasnoobtainingtheleastmitigationbyanyapplicationtomagistratesorgovernmentatthattime,atleastnotthatIheardof。Thisputthepeopleuponallmannerofstratageminorder,ifpossible,togetout;
anditwouldfillalittlevolumetosetdowntheartsusedbythepeopleofsuchhousestoshuttheeyesofthewatchmenwhowereemployed,todeceivethem,andtoescapeorbreakoutfromthem,inwhichfrequentscufflesandsomemischiefhappened;ofwhichbyitself。
AsIwentalongHoundsditchonemorningabouteighto\'clocktherewasagreatnoise。Itistrue,indeed,therewasnotmuchcrowd,becausepeoplewerenotveryfreetogathertogether,ortostaylongtogetherwhentheywerethere;nordidIstaylongthere。Buttheoutcrywasloudenoughtopromptmycuriosity,andIcalledtoonethatlookedoutofawindow,andaskedwhatwasthematter。
Awatchman,itseems,hadbeenemployedtokeephispostatthedoorofahousewhichwasinfected,orsaidtobeinfected,andwasshutup。Hehadbeenthereallnightfortwonightstogether,ashetoldhisstory,andtheday—watchmanhadbeenthereoneday,andwasnowcometorelievehim。Allthiswhilenonoisehadbeenheardinthehouse,nolighthadbeenseen;theycalledfornothing,senthimofnoerrands,whichusedtobethechiefbusinessofthewatchmen;neitherhadtheygivenhimanydisturbance,ashesaid,fromtheMondayafternoon,whenheheardgreatcryingandscreaminginthehouse,which,ashesupposed,wasoccasionedbysomeofthefamilydyingjustatthattime。Itseems,thenightbefore,thedead—cart,asitwascalled,hadbeenstoppedthere,andaservant—maidhadbeenbroughtdowntothedoordead,andtheburiersorbearers,astheywerecalled,putherintothecart,wraptonlyinagreenrug,andcarriedheraway。
Thewatchmanhadknockedatthedoor,itseems,whenheheardthatnoiseandcrying,asabove,andnobodyansweredagreatwhile;
butatlastonelookedoutandsaidwithanangry,quicktone,andyetakindofcryingvoice,oravoiceofonethatwascrying,\'Whatd\'yewant,thatyemakesuchaknocking？\'Heanswered,\'Iamthewatchman！Howdoyoudo？Whatisthematter？\'Thepersonanswered,\'Whatisthattoyou？Stopthedead—cart。\'This,itseems,wasaboutoneo\'clock。Soonafter,asthefellowsaid,hestoppedthedead—cart,andthenknockedagain,butnobodyanswered。Hecontinuedknocking,andthebellmancalledoutseveraltimes,\'Bringoutyourdead\';butnobodyanswered,tillthemanthatdrovethecart,beingcalledtootherhouses,wouldstaynolonger,anddroveaway。
Thewatchmanknewnotwhattomakeofallthis,soheletthemalonetillthemorning—manorday—watchman,astheycalledhim,cametorelievehim。Givinghimanaccountoftheparticulars,theyknockedatthedooragreatwhile,butnobodyanswered;andtheyobservedthatthewindoworcasementatwhichthepersonhadlookedoutwhohadansweredbeforecontinuedopen,beinguptwopairofstairs。
Uponthisthetwomen,tosatisfytheircuriosity,gotalongladder,andoneofthemwentuptothewindowandlookedintotheroom,wherehesawawomanlyingdeaduponthefloorinadismalmanner,havingnoclothesonherbuthershift。Butthoughhecalledaloud,andputtinginhislongstaff,knockedhardonthefloor,yetnobodystirredoranswered;neithercouldhehearanynoiseinthehouse。
Hecamedownagainuponthis,andacquaintedhisfellow,whowentupalso;andfindingitjustso,theyresolvedtoacquainteithertheLordMayororsomeothermagistrateofit,butdidnotoffertogoinatthewindow。Themagistrate,itseems,upontheinformationofthetwomen,orderedthehousetobebrokeopen,aconstableandotherpersonsbeingappointedtobepresent,thatnothingmightbeplundered;andaccordinglyitwassodone,whennobodywasfoundinthehousebutthatyoungwoman,whohavingbeeninfectedandpastrecovery,theresthadlefthertodiebyherself,andwereeveryonegone,havingfoundsomewaytodeludethewatchman,andtogetopenthedoor,orgetoutatsomeback—door,oroverthetopsofthehouses,sothatheknewnothingofit;andastothosecriesandshriekswhichheheard,itwassupposedtheywerethepassionatecriesofthefamilyatthebitterparting,which,tobesure,itwastothemall,thisbeingthesistertothemistressofthefamily。Themanofthehouse,hiswife,severalchildren,andservants,beingallgoneandfled,whethersickorsound,thatIcouldneverlearn;nor,indeed,didI
makemuchinquiryafterit。
Manysuchescapesweremadeoutofinfectedhouses,asparticularlywhenthewatchmanwassentofsomeerrand;foritwashisbusinesstogoofanyerrandthatthefamilysenthimof;thatistosay,fornecessaries,suchasfoodandphysic;tofetchphysicians,iftheywouldcome,orsurgeons,ornurses,ortoorderthedead—cart,andthelike;butwiththiscondition,too,thatwhenhewenthewastolockuptheouterdoorofthehouseandtakethekeyawaywithhim,Toevadethis,andcheatthewatchmen,peoplegottwoorthreekeysmadetotheirlocks,ortheyfoundwaystounscrewthelockssuchaswerescrewedon,andsotakeoffthelock,beingintheinsideofthehouse,andwhiletheysentawaythewatchmantothemarket,tothebakehouse,orforonetrifleoranother,openthedoorandgooutasoftenastheypleased。Butthisbeingfoundout,theofficersafterwardshadorderstopadlockupthedoorsontheoutside,andplaceboltsonthemastheythoughtfit。
Atanotherhouse,asIwasinformed,inthestreetnextwithinAldgate,awholefamilywasshutupandlockedinbecausethemaid—
servantwastakensick。ThemasterofthehousehadcomplainedbyhisfriendstothenextaldermanandtotheLordMayor,andhadconsentedtohavethemaidcarriedtothepest—house,butwasrefused;